Social Work Helping Process 📖 Planning & Intervention (2 of 3)

Summary

In this video, Anna Bea, a social worker and content creator, delves into the planning and intervention steps of the social work helping process. Having previously covered engagement and assessment, Anna underscores the importance of a structured plan before intervention. The planning phase involves setting goals collaboratively with clients and ensuring these goals align with the client’s needs and the social worker’s competencies. Intervention, the next step, focuses on implementing these plans through various tailored approaches, always respecting clients' self-determination and adhering to ethical guidelines. Anna emphasizes adapting strategies to suit different domains and highlights ongoing learning as crucial for effective practice.

Highlights

• Anna Bea highlights the importance of detailed planning in social work, which often doesn't receive enough energy. 🔍
• In planning, social workers collaborate with clients to set intervention goals. It’s a client-centered process. 🗣️
• Social workers must consider ethical guidelines and competency boundaries when planning interventions. 🧭
• Anna emphasizes that interventions should focus on client-specific goals and are not a one-size-fits-all approach. 🎨
• The role of cultural humility in planning and intervention is crucial, respecting the client's cultural framework. 🤲
• Anna advises social workers to continuously educate themselves to enhance their intervention skills. 📖
• Intervention steps must align with the client’s expressed needs and respect their autonomy. 🔄

Key Takeaways

• Planning and intervention are crucial steps in the social work helping process, emphasizing collaboration with clients. 🤝
• The planning phase involves setting client-focused goals, ensuring they align with social work competencies. ✅
• Interventions should be tailored to the client's needs and can vary based on the field and population served. 🎯
• Social workers must continually improve their skills through ongoing education to provide the best services. 📚
• The process honors core social work values such as self-determination, cultural humility, and ethical practice. 🌍

Overview

In this engaging video, Anna Bea takes us through the critical planning and intervention phases of the social work helping process. Building on the first video, she underscores the necessity of a well-structured plan. This ensures alignment between social work practices and the unique goals and circumstances of each client, emphasizing collaboration and client-centered strategies.

Anna delves into the details of planning, highlighting its importance in setting actionable goals in collaboration with clients. This phase ensures that interventions are not only effective but also ethical and within the boundaries of the social worker’s competence. She also discusses various intervention strategies, stressing their adaptability to diverse needs and contexts.

The video wraps up by reiterating the significance of ongoing learning and adaptation in social work practice. Anna encourages social workers to engage in continuous education to refine their skills and better serve clients. The process upholds vital social work principles, such as cultural humility and respect for client self-determination, ensuring that interventions lead to meaningful and positive outcomes.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction Anna, a social worker and content creator, introduces the video as the second installment in the helping process series. This episode focuses on planning and intervention, covering the middle steps of the social work process. The first video included engagement and assessment, while the third will deal with evaluation and termination. She emphasizes the six-step framework common to all social workers, acknowledging some variations and additional details based on specific cases.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Core Values of Social Work The chapter titled 'Core Values of Social Work' emphasizes the fundamental principles and objectives that guide social workers in their practice. It discusses the variability of social work practices depending on the area of the field, whether it be with individuals, groups, families, communities, or at a macro level. Despite this variability, it stresses the importance of adhering to the core values and principles of social work, which include helping those in need, addressing social issues, challenging social injustices, respecting the dignity and worth of individuals, and recognizing the importance of human relationships. These principles are upheld regardless of the specific context or part of the helping process that the social worker is engaged in.
• 01:00 - 05:30: Planning Step The chapter titled 'Planning Step' discusses the importance of trustworthy behavior and professional competence among social workers. It emphasizes continuous development and enhancement of professional skills. The video assumes that the viewer has already engaged with the client and completed an assessment. Significantly, it highlights the value of the planning step, which is often underestimated. This phase is crucial regardless of the specific field of social work being practiced. Effective planning follows client engagement and assessment, which is essential for addressing the client's needs adequately.
• 05:30 - 13:30: Intervention Step The chapter titled 'Intervention Step' emphasizes the significance of thorough preparation and clear communication before initiating any intervention. It highlights the necessity of collaborating with clients to finalize the goals and methods of intervention, ensuring they are informed about what to expect. Planning involves determining appropriate interventions based on the social worker's competence and expertise, tailored to the client's needs.
• 13:30 - 14:00: Conclusion and Reflection The chapter emphasizes the importance of maintaining a client-centered approach in therapy, particularly by using the client's own language when setting goals. This approach ensures that therapy remains focused on what the client wants to address rather than what the social worker believes needs fixing. The chapter underlines that goals should be set by the clients themselves and not imposed by social workers based on perceived flaws.

Social Work Helping Process 📖 Planning & Intervention (2 of 3) Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 hello I am Anna I am a social worker and a content  creator this is the second video in our helping   process Series where we will talk about what the  process looks like as a social worker working with   a client in six steps the first video covered both  engagement and assessment so if you've missed that   one go start there and then come here in this  video we will cover planning and intervention   and then part three will be evaluation and  termination overall the social work helping   process is six sometimes seven steps that are  a general framework for every social worker   when they are working with a client now there are  different caveats and different details that may
• 00:30 - 01:00 change or look a little bit different depending on  which area of the field you work in and what your   scope of practice is whether you're working with  individuals groups families communities if you're   working in macro but this is the Bare Bones just  like with last video I think it is very important   to begin with the core values and principles of  the profession of social work because obviously we   will be upholding them no matter what we are doing  which part of the helping process we are in and so   just as a reminder social worker's primary goal is  to help people in need and address social problems   social workers challenge social injustice social  workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of   the person so social workers recognize the central  importance of Human Relationships social workers
• 01:00 - 01:30 behave in a trustworthy Manner and social workers  practice within their area of competence and   develop and enhance their professional expertise  so as we begin today's video we're assuming that   you have already engaged with the client and you  have already completed an assessment moving into   step number three that is the planning step and  it is one that is so commonly not given enough   energy while it is so so crucial and important no  matter what kind of work you're doing as a social   worker so after you've engaged the client after  you've assessed their needs it is crucial to plan
• 01:30 - 02:00 interventions before you take any action not only  do you not go into an intervention unprepared but   it is also important to clearly communicate the  treatment plan to the client to the level that is   beneficial so that they know what we're getting  into too they know the process in short what is   planning it is when the social worker and the  client collaborate to finalize what the goals   of intervention are and how they will be reached  this is also when you determine are the types of   interventions that are within your competence  and within your expertise right for the client   that's in front of you so what does planning  include what are the goals of intervention
• 02:00 - 02:30 this will vary depending on the theoretical's  perspective that you're following but it is often   quite beneficial to use the client's wording when  discussing goals this ensures that the treatment   remains client focused and it Remains Not if I  were the client this is what I think should be   fixed in their life but it really is the client  is coming to you and so you are addressing what   they would like to be addressed client goals are  not the ones that social workers determine clients   need to set because the social worker identifies  some flaw in them the goals are addressing the
• 02:30 - 03:00 presenting problem so what are the goals of  intervention how will we achieve these goals   also known as what research-based intervention  or treatment will be right for this client and   when we discuss intervention we'll discuss some of  the different types of interventions that can be   used that are commonly used but there is such vast  variation in what the actual intervention will be   which I'm sure you can assume it's going to be  different depending on which area of the field   you're working with which population you're  working with what your role in the agency is   ETC what are the goals how we achieve the goals  then we make an action plan every is different
• 03:00 - 03:30 they come in from a different place and you learn  their unique place of life during the assessment   phase so now you can use the information you  have gathered to create a personalized plan of   action that addresses the presenting problem  the client should be involved to the extent   that is beneficial in creating an action plan as  well as a social worker it is always our job to   promote empowerment promote self-determination  and promote Independence allowing clients to   take part in their treatment to the extent that is  beneficial is really important in being a social   worker it can be helpful to think of it more as  a partnership collaboration than I am the expert
• 03:30 - 04:00 and you need to listen to me because you're the  client of course you know how to do this process   you know how social processes work you know  more about the intervention than they do so   you can provide a framework of what that's going  to look like but ultimately the client is the one   who is actually putting in the work to achieve  their goals you can't put in the work to achieve   their goals for them it doesn't matter what you  want for the client it matters what the client   wants for themselves so some tips to plan well  ask co-workers and supervisors in the specific   agency and area of the field that you're in what  treatment planning looks like for them what the
• 04:00 - 04:30 process of that is how you document it and then  also and we'll get a little bit into this further   in the helping process but what the structure for  reviewing treatment plans looks like seeing others   in action treatment planning may help this  step feel more attainable actionable for you   and remember that planning will vary so greatly  depending on the area of the field that you are   in if you are working in therapy then this step  will include determining which therapy modality   the client will benefit from if you are working in  case management then the planning step may include   deciding which resource agency you're going to  refer the client to regardless the client should
• 04:30 - 05:00 be informed what the plan is and why the plan is  that going to our handy dandy code of ethics 1.02   social workers respect and promote the rights of  clients to self-determination and assist clients   in their efforts to identify and clarify their  goals social workers May limit clients rights   to self-determination when in the social workers  professional judgment clients actions or potential   actions pose a serious foreseeable and imminent  risk to themselves or others so in this stage   focusing more on the first part of that about how  it is our job to respect and promote the rights
• 05:00 - 05:30 of clients to self-determination including them  in the planning process is part of this they've   given their informed consent because you've talked  about expectations of treatment roles boundaries   Etc but now you're looking at getting into  the nitty-gritty of it of how are we going to   intervene what is this going to look like what is  this going to include what are the goals that we   are achieving what are the objectives that we're  striving for clients get to be part of that 1.05   social workers should demonstrate awareness  and cultural humility by engaging in critical   self-reflection understanding their own bias and  engaging in self-correction recognizing clients   as Experts of their own culture committing  to lifelong learning and holding institutions
• 05:30 - 06:00 accountable for advancing cultural humility why  bring this part of the code of ethics into the   planning steps specifically is to hone in on the  fact that treatment goals are set by the client   the client is the expert on their own life  on their own experience on what they want on   how they view the world on how they interact with  the world on how the world interacts with them so   it is up to them to determine what success looks  like for them cultural humility as a social worker   looks like not taking my culture and setting goals  based on it for someone outside of my culture just   because someone is different than me does not  mean that they are wrong and that is something
• 06:00 - 06:30 that social workers need to consciously think of  or else it'll come out in an implicit bias again   remember that just because you are used to the  process of working with a social worker and how   that looks like doesn't mean that the client is  used to this process or quite comfortable with it   yet clear communication is so crucial through  the planning stage especially without being   condescending you are going to know more than  the client which is why it's on you to clearly   communicate what the plan is and what the plan  can be so that they can clearly understand what   the plan is and what intervention will look like  I made up some examples for this planning is not
• 06:30 - 07:00 limited to these examples that I came up with and  some of them are outside of what I'm used to in   practice so if you have other examples that are  in your own scope of practice and you'd like to   comment them I would love that because I'm sure  other people would love to see that too but for   example say that you are a micro social worker  working in a therapy setting your planning stage   could determine that you are going to use trauma  systems therapy just as an example because trauma   systems therapy has been shown to reduce trauma  related symptoms in both males and females from   age 6 to age 19 blah blah blah here's our true  treatment plan for that so being the social worker
• 07:00 - 07:30 and Having learned about different interventions  you're the one who knows like okay trauma systems   therapy that's what I'm trained in that's what  I'm certified in supervised under the client most   likely is not going to know what trauma systems  therapy is that's why in the planning process   you discuss the mode of intervention that you're  going to use why it's beneficial why it might be   applicable to the client the client communicates  their goals to you so then you can communicate   how this modality has been shown to help other  people that maybe have the same goals or the   similar presenting problems I hope that helps it  makes sense or a meso example this is a program   that has been utilized in these locations and  has been shown to increase attendance rates in
• 07:30 - 08:00 high schoolers by X percent over X months shown  in this published research paper so if you're   coming in to work on raising attendance rates  in a high school you're not going to just make   something up and hope it works the planning stage  is more seeing okay what has worked like what may   work for this high school here are my exact goals  objectives and the plan of how I'm going to get   there macro level this legislation preventing  employers from acquiring a permanent address   prior to employment was implemented in an X date  X years ago compared to then previously on house   residents around reported an X percent increase in  Financial Security I made that up but the planning
• 08:00 - 08:30 stage for macro can include research like that  this thing seemed to show Improvement in this   state how can we take what worked for them and  start implementing it into ours because we want   to address this social problem in ours lots of  times when you're in school for social work you   will be practicing this kind of planning whether  it's in your individuals class whether it's in   your groups class whether it's in your community  class whether it's in your policy class it can   seem kind of arbitrary when you're doing it for  school or when you're writing a paper but it is   a skill and a step that is included in the social  work profession when you become a professional
• 08:30 - 09:00 social worker okay so now you have engaged you  have assessed you have planned it is finally time   to intervene what is intervention it is actively  working to meet the goals and objectives set by   the client this is also where each individual  social workers process will vary so much   depending on what you're doing which population  you're working with which agency you're with   Etc intervention may be long term or it may be  short-term but no matter what intervention is   designed to address the presenting problem that  you assessed for what intervention includes is is   actually starting to do the work whether it's in  therapy sessions whether it's starting a program
• 09:00 - 09:30 whether it's referring a client to a resource they  need code of ethics 1.04 social workers should   provide services and represent themselves  as competent only within the boundaries of   their education training license certification  consultation received supervised experience and   other relevant professional experience social  workers should provide services in substantive   areas or use intervention techniques or approaches  that are new to them only after engaging in   appropriate study training consultation and  supervision from people who are competent in
• 09:30 - 10:00 those interventions or techniques I bring this  up at this point to say that if a client needs   an intervention or a treatment that you are not  trained in and are not competent in don't have a   supervisor who's supervising you under if you're  not independently licensed you need to refer the   client to someone who can help them in the ways  they need so when you're doing interventions   it sends the interventions that you know how to  do because since the field is so broad I cannot   walk into a therapy office and start conducting  EMDR therapy because I have never been trained   in that I have not been supervised under that I  have not been certified with that and if that is   someone is looking for I can't provide them that  so I refer them to someone who can at this point
• 10:00 - 10:30 when you're actually intervening you would have  already determined what kind of intervention   you're using but for the sake of clarity of what  the intervention step will actually look like here   are some examples of intervention modalities most  of them are micro because that is what I'm most   familiar with cognitive behavioral therapy CBT  Crisis Intervention model narrative therapy task   centered practice solution focused therapy  problem solving model behavior therapy eye   movement desensitization and reprocessing that's  the EMDR exposure therapy Family Therapy Group   interventions holistic approach parent training  play therapy Psychotherapy psychoeducation
• 10:30 - 11:00 psychosocial intervention school-based  intervention social emotional therapy   psychopharmacology Care Management strengths-based  approach Community organization with intervention   I know I've already said it I'm just gonna like  hammer in the nail a little bit deeper you work   within your competency or you get trained to do  what you want to know how to do another example   I am not going to give anyone any kind of exposure  therapy because I have not been trained and how to   do that well and it could be harmful to a client  we don't just throw wet noodles at the wall and
• 11:00 - 11:30 see what sticks gotta stick within your competency  and remember through intervention that success is   relative and progress is progress there is not  one way to be successful and a client is not   going to go from zero to 100 in 24 hours success  is relative and any progress is progress some   tips to do intervention well when you're at this  step is to ensure that the intervention is always   focused on the treatment goals that have been set  if someone's presenting problem is I feel like I   keep bringing this up as an example but Financial  insecurity and they are needing resources and   support and becoming more financially secure or  maybe gaining employment if they're unemployed
• 11:30 - 12:00 your intervention is not going to be addressing  like maladaptive thoughts if that's not what   they want I'm looking for help with tangible  resources and you're telling me just be happy   I over exaggerate to show the example but your  intervention needs to be focused on the treatment   plan that has been set to achieve the treatment  goals that have been set ensure that the client   always is understanding the process that they're  going through remember that informed consent can   be revoked by the client at any time that is their  right be a lifelong learner and understand that   as a social worker you will always always have  room to grow and that's valid for no matter how
• 12:00 - 12:30 many years post grad you are there's always room  to grow so even though you got certified in an   intervention maybe in a certain type of therapy  you can continue learning and continue building   on your skills so that your interventions can  be the best that you can make them be for the   clients that you are serving so with that you can  participate in continuing education units that are   beneficial to you once you get licensed it'll  likely be a requirement though the amount might   vary that you do need to participate in continuing  education units so you can choose classes and   workshops and conferences that will really be  beneficial to you so that you can be the best
• 12:30 - 13:00 at the interventions that you use which ultimately  then boils down to clients getting better Social   Work services so circling back to the core values  and the principles of the social work profession   that we mentioned at the beginning some reflection  questions for you after you just learned so much   about planning and about intervention what does  it look like to help people in need and address   social problems in planning and in intervention  how can social injustice be challenged through   planning and intervention how can you respect  the dignity and inherent worth of the person   through planning and through intervention how  can you centralize the importance of Human
• 13:00 - 13:30 Relationships through planning and intervention  how can you be trustworthy through planning and   through intervention and how can you ensure that  you are practicing within your area of competence   through planning and through intervention after  intervention your social work helping process   is not done so stay tuned for the third video in  this series where we will talk about evaluation   and termination of services arguably some of  the very most important steps definitely not   two that you can skip out on subscribe  before you go and I'll see you next time
• 13:30 - 14:00 [Music] [Music]